The story below is in memory of Belinda Emmett, in appreciation of Kylie Minogue, some of my friends and relatives, and anyone who has been struck down by cancer.
A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn’t help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him.
It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn’t until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became
aware of what the joke was all about.
The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him.
He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, “This?” With that the men all began to laugh out loud.
The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter, “Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!”
The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table and invited him to sit down. The guy obliged but was not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said, “I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother’s honour.”
“Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?”
“No, she didn’t. She’s alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I’m very grateful for my mother’s breasts and her health.”
“Umm,” the stranger replied, “Yeah.”
“And I wear this ribbon to honour my wife,” the middle aged man went on.
“And she’s okay, too?” the other guy asked.
“Oh, yes. She’s fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago. I am grateful for my wife’s breasts, and for her health.”
“Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?”
“It’s too late to honour my daughter by wearing it now. My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago. She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she
accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn’t painful, it must not be anything to worry about.”
Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, “Oh, man, I’m so sorry mister.”
“So, in my daughter’s memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends.”
And here, the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, “Can ya help me put it on?”
This is breast cancer awareness month.
Do regular breast self-exams and encourage those women you love to do the same.
Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness.
A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE.
PLEASE KEEP THIS CANDLE GOING!
How You Can Help In Mere Seconds — Every Day
The Breast Cancer Site provides a feel-good way to help promote awareness of breast cancer and provide free mammograms for women in need every day — through easy and quick online activities.
With a simple, daily click of the pink “Fund Free Mammograms” button at The Breast Cancer Site, visitors help to provide free mammograms for women in need. Visitors pay nothing. Mammograms are provided by our charitable partners.
Please remember to click every day to fund free mammograms and give hope to women in need. Every click counts in the battle to prevent breast cancer.
In addition to clicking the pink “Fund Free Mammograms” button, visitors can help more by shopping in The Breast Cancer Site store. With each item purchased, shoppers generate funds that provide free mammograms for women in need. The store offers a wide array of items to show your support as well as fair-traded and handcrafted items from around the world that help families and communities pull themselves out of poverty.
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